Jul 29, 2019

Report: Major wind project off Massachusetts coast hits snag

Offshore windfarm in Redcar, England. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Federal approval for a large wind farm off the Massachusetts coast is being held up by "infighting" among agencies, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: The problems come as U.S. offshore wind, which has been very slow to get moving, finally appears poised to become a major industry as deep-pocketed developers plan large projects off several states.

But, but, but: Per Reuters, the first of these big projects — called Vineyard Wind — is facing delays because the National Marine Fisheries Service hasn't yet reached an agreement with the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

The big picture: "How the problem is resolved will shape the regulatory blueprint for a growing list of offshore wind developers seeking to tap in to rising U.S. demand for renewable energy, but who face objections from fishermen worried the turbines will affect commercial species or make fishing more difficult," their story states.

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Data: U.S. Department of Energy; Chart: Axios Visuals

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